NEWS HEADLINES

Former Wise County Justice of the Peace C.D. Archer has been indicted for aggravated sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child by sexual contact.

C.D. Archer

A Wise County grand jury returned the indictments last Thursday, and Archer, 54, was arrested Monday morning. He posted $125,000 bond and was released from the Wise County Jail.

The indictments allege the sexual contact occurred with two different victims, one under the age of 17 and another under the age of 14. The Messenger does not identify victims of alleged sexual assault.

The aggravated sexual assault of a child charge, a first-degree felony offense, contains 16 counts with the same female victim. According to the indictments, the sexual acts began around June 1, 1994, and continued until December 2002. The victim in that case was under 14 during every assault.

The indecency charge, a second-degree felony, contains one count with a male victim under age 17. The indictment states that the victim was fondled by Archer around July 26, 2001.

Assistant District Attorney Lindy Borchardt, who is handling the case for the state, said she could not discuss specifics of the case. She said the reason the case was moving forward now, years after the alleged assaults, is due to a delayed outcry by a victim.

Archer’s attorney, Marilyn Belew of Decatur, said it would not be proper to comment on pending cases.

“I do look forward to vindicating my client,” she said.

According to Archer’s bond conditions on file in 271st District Court, he must report to the adult probation department, possess no weapons, not leave the area and have no contact with the victim or with any child under age 17.

Archer was elected Precinct 4 justice of the peace as a Republican in November of 2002, defeating then-Democratic incumbent Clay Poynor. Poynor ran as a Republican four years later and defeated Archer and two other challengers in the primary election.